touchhole

[ tuhch-hohl ]

noun

1. the vent in the breech of an early firearm or cannon through which the charge was ignited.

touchhole

/ ˈtʌtʃˌhəʊl /

noun

1. a hole in the breech of early cannon and firearms through which the charge was ignited

Word History and Origins

Origin of touchhole¹

First recorded in 1495–1505; touch + hole

Example Sentences

Then he laid that match to the touchhole and another rain of iron swept down the street.

From Project Gutenberg

Carefully, deliberately, Pamela Russell lowered her candle to the cannon's touchhole.

From Project Gutenberg

The first charge was twenty pounds of powder, not more than nineteen of them running out of the touchhole.

From Project Gutenberg

There rose a little smoke from the touchhole plate, but no shot resounded.

From Project Gutenberg

One of the guns apparently missed fire, and as he was placing fresh powder in the touchhole the stuff went off.

From Project Gutenberg